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10.29.2014

must-have camera accessories and a GIVEAWAY!

A little less than two years ago I got to purchase one of my very first splurge items. I'd wanted a DSLR camera for sooooo long and my husband and I decided to finally include it in our budget so I could save up and get it. I ended up getting a Canon Rebel T3i brand new for less than $500 (which at the time was a pretty great deal). That thing was my baby. Well... I had a real baby, but this camera was something I definitely cherished (and still do)! If you currently have DSLR camera or are looking to get one soon, this post is for you! I've gathered up some of my must-have camera accessories to show you.

1. A portrait lens

I have a 50 mm f/1.8 lens and it has changed my life. I have more versatility with my picture taking than when I just had the zoom lens that came with the kit I purchased. I use this lens all the time! It's a fairly cheap option for a lens (you can find it on Amazon for $125 here) and can make photos look a lot more professional.

2. A cute strap

Now this accessory isn't totally necessary (since most cameras come with a strap), but it adds a little fashion flair! Etsy is a great place to find customized options, like this cute floral one.

3. A photo editing program

I received Adobe Lightroom as a gift and I really love it for simple editing. If I had the money for it, I would love to use Photoshop as well, but I can't justify that big of a purchase for editing software at this point. I really just adjust lighting and crop a little if I have to with Lightroom, and it works so great for that! Nothing too crazy, but it makes pictures look a lot better. Before I had Lightroom I just used iphoto which got the job done. To make collages and do a few other things I use picmonkey.com (which is free) and it's great for the little add ons like that. I just definitely recommend doing a little bit of editing to make your photos stand out!

A camera bag

This is actually something that you'll need to get with a DSLR. Nicer cameras need a bag for protection and convenience of toting around with you! A great option I've found is the Tamrac Aria bag. It comes in a few color options, so you can customize it to your preference! I think this bag strikes the perfect balance between function and fashion. It has plenty of room for your camera as well as an extra lens or two (depending on the model you go with) and provides cushioning inside to protect your camera. The cross body style makes it cute to wear and you don't have to worry about dropping it. Love it!

Now on to the giveaway part, which is really what you want to know about. I'm teaming up with Tamrac to giveaway one of their Aria bags to a lucky reader! Enter below with rafflecopter, and good luck to you all! The giveaway will end in 10 days, so make sure to get your entries in before then.